Movable boundary board game apparatus

ABSTRACT

A game board structure having a plurality of movable playing pieces disposed on each side of a movable boundary across the playing surface dividing it into two playing areas. The playing pieces include means for removably securing the pieces to the playing surface and means for contacting the movable boundary and moving at least that portion thereof so contacted to alter its shape and thereby change the dimensions of the playing areas.

United States Patent Burns 5] June 27, 1972 1 1 MOVABLE BOUNDARY BOARD GAME 1,674,533 6/1928 Templeton ..273/131 5 APPARATUS 2,187,808 1/1940 Parker ..273/131 BA Inventor: Edgar Burns Los g Calif. 2,400,644 5/1946 Hoffman ..2 73/ 1 31 B 73] Assignee: Mattel, Inc., Hawthorne, Calif. Primary Examiner-Delbert B. Lowe [22] Filed: Jam 25, 1971 Attorney-Seymour A. Scholmck [2]] App]. No.: 109,270 [57] ABSTRACT V A game board structure having a plurality of movable playing U.S. Cl BA, 273/136 C pieces disposed n each side ofa movable boundary across the [51] Int. Cl. ..A63f 3/00 playing Surface dividing it into two playing areas The playing [58] Field Of Search ..273/13l, 134, 136 pieces include means for removab] Securing the ieces to the Y P playing surface and means for contacting the movable boun- [56] References Cited dary and moving at least that portion thereof so contacted to UNITED STATES PATENTS alter its shape and thereby change the dimensions of the playing areas. 1,315,483 9/1919 Edwards ..273/13l BB 1,615,982 2/1927 Jewett ..273/1 34 CG 10 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION:

The background of the invention will be set forth in two parts.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention pertains generally to the field of games utilizing game boards and game pieces positionable thereon by players of the game.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART The movement of game pieces by opposing players on a game board is of course well-known. However, for the most part, these prior art game constructions merely have provision for two or more players to move game pieces about a playing surface of a board having either no boundaries or having fixed boundaries In both cases, the option left to the players is very limited and it is difficult for the players-to formulate a game plan or strategy. This is mainly because only the playing pieces are considered and not those portions of the playing surface occupied by each player's movable pieces.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION:

In view of the foregoing factors and conditions characteristic of the prior art,it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a new game structure not subject to the dis advantages enumerated above and having a movable boundary cooperating with the position of movable playing pieces in contact therewith.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a game structure wherein the areas of the playing surface dominated by each players playing pieces are changeable.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a simple yet very entertaining game structure that allows the playing pieces to move rectilinearly and/or diagonally to create very irregular but challenging boundary line conditions between opposing game forces.

According to the present invention, a game is provided which includes a game board structure having a playing surface with movable boundary forming means supported thereby across the playing surface for dividing the playing surface into two changeable playing areas. Playing pieces are disposed on both sides of the boundary forming means and are provided with attachment means for removably securing the playing pieces to the playing surface. Also, the pieces include boundary movement means for contacting and moving at least that portion of the boundary forming means so contacted in the direction of movement of the playing pieces to alter its shape and thereby change the dimension of the playing areas.

The playing surface may be provided with peg-accepting apertures and the playing pieces may accordingly be provided with pegs for securing the pieces at certain positions on the playing surface.

The boundary forming means may be a cord stretched across the playing surface with tension means attached thereto to keep the cord taut irrespective of its contour due to the positions of the playing pieces in contact therewith.

The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The present invention, both as to its organization and manner of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by referring to the following description, taken in connection with the accom panying drawings in which like reference characters refer to like elements in the several views.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a game structure constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a portion of the playing surface and playing piece seen in FIG. 1, taken along line 22;

FIG. 3 is a partial sectional view of the structure seen in FIG. 1, taken along line 3-3;

FIG. 4 is a partial section taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3;'

and

FIG. 5 illustrates a preferred means of maintaining an even tension on the movable boundary means as seen in FIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring again to the drawings, and more particularly to FIG. 1, there is shown a game 11 having a game board structure 13 with side walls 15, end walls 17, opposite molded player positions 19 with peg apertures 21 and trough 23, and with a broad playing surface 25. The game board structure 13 may be conventionally fabricated from any generally'considered suitable plastic material using any conventional molding process.

The playing surface 25 includes playing piece securing means such as a plurality of apertures 27 distributed thereabout in a predetermined pattern. For example, such a pattern as shown in FIG. 1 having eight columns and ten rows may be used. Accordingly, it is generally preferable to then have as many playing pieces as there are columns for each of the two opposing sides. Thus, one side may have eight playing pieces 29 while the opposite side or player may be provided with a similar number of playing pieces 31.

The playing pieces include a body portion 33, a peg portion 35, and a groove defining spacer portion 37, having a height dimension to just clear or accommodate the height dimension of movable boundary member 39.. The playing pieces are preferably formed in a conventional :molding process from a plastic material such as a styrene, and. have any desired color, the pieces of opposing forces generally being distinguishable from each other by an appropriate color code. Also, the playing pieces may be assembled from a plurality of parts to provide, for example, a greater number of color and/or shape combinations.

The peg portions 35,0f the playing pieces are designed to conform with and are adapted to fit snugly into the playing surface apertures 27 and into the similarly shaped playing position apertures 21. The apertures 27, as seen in detail in FIG. 2, include depending tubular casings 41 having straight sided upper portions 43 and converging lower portions 45 terminating at closed ends 47. Using this type of construction, the playing pieces may be readily moved about the playing surface 25 and to-and-from the player positions 23 while providing security from undesired movement when not in use and/or when in contact with the movable boundary member 39. Although a particular playing piece attachment means has been described herein, it should be understood that other means may be used such as, for example, other mechanical, electromechanical, or magnetic arrangements, and any combination of these.

The movable boundary member 39 is disposed transversely across the playing surface 25 and may be an elastic member wrapped l A times around the width of the board and anchored at each end below the surface. Preferably, it is a string or cord which need not be elastic and which extends through side apertures 49 at the side edges 51 of the playing surface 25 and is anchored at each of the ends 53, through resilient means to be described later, by depending brackets 55. As can be seen in FIG. 3, the portions of the cord 39 extending beneath the playing surface 25 are identified by reference character 39' and lie generally parallel to that portion of the cord 39 above the playing surface. Also, the cord portion 39 extends under the playing surface toward opposite sides 15 of the structure 13.

By referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, it can be seen that the brackets 55 include notches 57 leading to a generally circular opening 59 wherein first ends 61 of elongated coil springs 63 are disposed. The springs 63 are attached to the ends 53 of the boundary member 39 and are forced into and prevented from passing through the openings 59 by apertured spheres or balls 65 each secured by knot 67 in cord 69 attached to second end 71 of the spring 63, Springs 63 may be attached at their ends 61 and 71 to cords 53 and 69, respectively, by any conventional means such as using an adhesive, a bonding agent, a retaining clip or staple or by simply forcing, by twisting action, the springs over the ends of the cords for a desired relatively short distance.

It can be seen from FIGS. l3 that the movement of a playing piece 31 beyond the normally positioned boundary line indicated by dashed outline 39A will cause the boundary member 39 to be moved at that point. This movement causes portions of member 39 previously disposed below the playing surface to be pulled onto the playing surface. A nearly constant tension and bias force is placed on the movable member 39 by the two springs 63 and a significant reserve is available for use above the playing surface, as shown by dashed lines 39B, for example, through the overlapping movable member configuration described and illustrated. For purposes of ease of boundary movement through the apertures 49, depending lip portions 73 are preferably provided at the inner edges of the apertures 49. Altemately, pulleys (not shown) could be substituted for the portions 73 to perform the same function.

As noted previously, the peg accepting apertures 27 may be provided in the playing surface 25 in any desired pattern. The one being presently preferred simulates a conventional checker or chess-type layout wherein the shape of the centrally located movable boundary member 39, which is extendable, due to its own elasticity or to the spring storage arrangement located beneath the playing surface, may be altered to cooperate with the game pieces 29 and 31 to change the areas of the playing surface that are under control of one player or the other.

As the pieces are advanced toward the opposing side, their spacer portions 37 soon contact the boundary member 39 and push it into their opponent's previously controlled area, thus capturing this additional territory. However, their opponent may also counter by moving pieces in the opposite direction at another point along the boundary to produce a contorted boundary situation as shown by dashed outline 398, for example.

Many different games requiring skill and strategy may be played utilizing the novel extensible boundary which divides the playing surface into two playing areas. For example, three classes of men or playing pieces may be provided, one class capturing forward and backward, one class capturing left and right, and another capturing diagonally in each direction.

From the foregoing, it can be seen that a very interesting and challenging yet simple-to-fabricate strategy game has been described wherein a boundary dividing the playing surface into two opposing playing areas may be moved by the playing pieces of the opposing forces to capture an opponent's territory.

It is to be pointed out that the materials used in fabricating the various parts and elements of the embodiment shown are not critical, and any material generally recognized to be suitable for performing similar functions may be utilized. Likewise, the process used in such fabrication may be any conventional one known in the art.

It should be evident from the foregoing specification and illustrations that the invention is susceptible to numerous modifications and embodiments, and accordingly, the playing pieces and the board structure may be of any desired shape and configuration having the necessary movable boundary forming and moving means.

What is claimed is:

l. A movable boundary game, comprising:

a game board structure having a playing surface bounded by opposite ends and opposite sides;

movable boundary means including an elongated flexible boundary member extending across said playing surface between said opposite sides for initially defining a straight boundary line between two changeable playing regions and providing a tensional force for recoverably changing the length of said boundary member and us configuration over said playing surface in response to deforming forces exerted therealong; and

a plurality of movable playing piece structures positionable on said playing surface, said playing piece structures each including attaching means for holding said playing piece structure in position on said playing surface against the tension of said boundary member, and also including boundary movement means for exerting a deforming force on said boundary member to inversely change the shapes and areas of said playing regions.

2. The movable boundary game according to claim 1, wherein said playing surface is generally rectangular with opposing player positions at said opposite ends, and wherein said initially defined boundary line is generally parallel to said op posite ends and said playing regions are equal in area.

3. The movable boundary game according to claim 2, wherein said game board structure includes bias means for providing a tensional bias force, and wherein said boundary member is operatively coupled to and held in tension by said bias means.

4. The movable boundary game according to claim 3, wherein said attaching means includes a plurality of peg-accepting apertures in said playing surface, and includes a downwardly extending and aperture conforming peg portion on each of said playing piece structures, whereby said peg portion of said playing piece structures may be lifted from one of said apertures and disposed in any unoccupied one of said plurality of peg-accepting apertures.

5. The movable boundary game according to claim 4, wherein a plurality of said peg-accepting apertures are disposed in each of said opposing player positions to temporarily store desired ones of said playing piece structures.

6. The movable boundary game according to claim 4, wherein said peg-accepting apertures are disposed in a row and column configuration in said playing surface, there being an equal number of said apertures in each of said playing re gions separated by said initially defined boundary line.

7. The movable boundary game according to claim 4, wherein each of said playing piece structures includes a graspable body portion opposite said peg portion, and wherein said boundary movement means includes a groove defining spacer portion having a diameter greater than that of said pegaccepting apertures and having a height dimension at least that of the height dimension of said boundary member.

8. The movable boundary game according to claim 3, wherein said boundary member is a cord, and wherein said bias means includes a spring attached to each end of said cord, each spring being anchored to said game board structure.

9. The movable boundary game according to claim 8, wherein said game board structure includes a first cord accepting hole adjacent a first one of said opposite sides and a second cord accepting hole adjacent a second one of said opposite sides, and wherein first and second end portions of said cord slidably extend through respective ones of said first and second holes, said first and second end portions having respective first and second ends each attached to different ones of said springs below the plane of said playing surface.

10. The movable boundary game according to claim 9, wherein said end portions extend beneath said playing surface generally parallel to that portion of said cord above said play ing surface, said first end portion extending toward and resiliently anchored through an associated one of said springs to said game board structure adjacent said second hole, and said second end portion extending toward and resiliently anchored through an associated one of said springs to said game board structure adjacent said first hole. 

1. A movable boundary game, comprising: a game board structure having a playing surface bounded by opposite ends and opposite sides; movable boundary means including an elongated flexible boundary member extending across said playing surface between said opposite sides for initially defining a straight boundary line between two changeable playing regions and providing a tensional force for recoverably changing the length of said boundary member and its configuration over said playing surface in response to deforming forces exerted therealong; and a plurality of movable playing piece structures positionable on said playing surface, said playing piece structures each including attaching means for holding said playing piece structure in position on said playing surface against the tension of said boundary member, and also including boundary movement means for exerting a deforming force on said boundary member to inversely change the shapes and areas of said playing regions.
 2. The movable boundary game according to claim 1, wherein said playing surface is generally rectangular with opposing player positions at said opposite ends, and wherein said initially defined boundary line is generally parallel to said opposite ends and said playing regions are equal in area.
 3. The movable boundary game according to claim 2, wherein said game board structure includes bias means for providing a tensional bias force, and wherein said boundary member is operatively coupled to and held in tension by said bias means.
 4. The movable boundary game according to claim 3, wherein said attaching means includes a plurality of peg-accepting apertures in said playing surface, and includes a downwardly extending and aperture conforming peg portion on each of said playing piece structures, whereby said peg portion of said playing piece structures may be lifted from one of said apertures and disposed in any unoccupied one of said plurality of peg-accepting apertures.
 5. The movable boundary game according to claim 4, wherein a plurality of said peg-accepting apertures are disposed in each of said opposing player positions to temporarily store desired ones of said playing piece structures.
 6. The movable boundary game according to claim 4, wherein said peg-accepting apertures are disposed in a row and column configuration in said playing surface, there being an equal number of said apertures in each of said playing regions separated by said initially defined boundary line.
 7. The movable boundary game according to claim 4, wherein each of said playing piece structures includes a graspable body portion opposite said peg portion, and wherein said boundary movement means includes a groove defining spacer portion having a diameter greater than that of said peg-accepting apertures and having a height dimension at least that of the height dimension of said boundary member.
 8. The movable boundary game according to claim 3, wherein said boundary member is a cord, and wherein said bias means includes a spring attached to each end of said cord, each spring being anchored to said game board structure.
 9. The movable boundary game according to claim 8, wherein said game board structure includes a first cord accepting hole adjacent a first one of said opposite sides and a second cord accepting hole adjacent a second one of said opposite sides, and wherein first and second end portions of said cord slidably extend through respective ones of said first and second holes, said first and second end portions having respective first and second ends each attached to different ones of said springs below the plane of said playing surface.
 10. The movable boundary game according to claim 9, wherein said end portions extend beneath said playing surface generally parallel to that portion of said cord above said playing surface, said first end portion extending toward and resiliently anchored through an associated one of said springs to said game board structure adjacent said second hole, and said second end portion extending toward and resiliently anchored through an associated one of said springs to said game board structure adjacent said first hole. 